The Storyteller's Toolkit

Welcome to The Storyteller's Toolkit, the weekly storytelling podcast from Settle Stories. Storyteller and Dharma teacher Sita Brand helps you find and tell the stories only you can tell. Each episode weaves together a folk tale, a presence practice and a practical tool you can use straight away, alongside conversations with master storytellers and quick tips to sharpen your craft. Join a growing community of people learning to notice their own lives, trust their own voice and share what's true.New episodes every week. Come and join us. Find out more about Settle Stories and Sita Brand at https://settlestories.org.uk/

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Ever told a story and watched it slip straight out of people's heads? The fix is one detail, chosen with care.In this episode of The Storyteller's Toolkit, Sita Brand tells The Star Money from the Brothers Grimm: a little girl gives everything away in a dark forest, and the stars fall around her as silver coins. It holds a simple lesson for anyone who speaks for a living. People remember one bright moment, so choose it on purpose.In this episode:The Even Spread, the habit that blurs good storiesWhy a statistic feels like a detail and works like fogThe Falling Star, a three-test tool for finding your one detailHow it sounds at a charity appeal, a school assembly and a client pitchIdeal for charity and community workers, teachers and business leaders preparing a talk, appeal, pitch or meeting.Chapters00:00 Cold open00:00 The Even Spread00:00 The Star Money (Brothers Grimm)00:00 What the tale teaches00:00 The number in the coat00:00 Hear the difference00:00 Presence practice00:00 The Falling Star tool00:00 CloseJoin our live workshops and masterclasses: settlestories.org.ukSubscribe for a new episode every week.Every voice feeds the world. Bring your story. Come and join us.#storytelling #publicspeaking #fairytales #charitycomms #leadership

Learn how to persuade people using storytelling without being pushy or confrontational. In this episode of The Storyteller’s Toolkit, Sita Brand breaks down the classic Brothers Grimm tale, "The Old Man and His Grandson," to reveal why lectures fail and how letting your listener be the hero changes everything. Discover "The Boy at the Table" framework—a 3-step public speaking and communication tool you can use in business meetings, teaching, community organizing, and everyday conversations.CHAPTERS:0:00 - The Secret to Real Persuasion0:42 - The Sticking Point: Stop Being the Hero2:15 - The Tale: The Old Man and His Grandson (Brothers Grimm)4:05 - What This Story Teaches Us About Influence5:40 - The "Guide in the Cape" Mistake6:50 - Manager A vs. Manager B: Real Example8:10 - 60-Second Presence Practice9:30 - The Tool: The Boy at the Table (3 Questions)12:10 - How to Use This in Business, Schools, and Community Work------------------------------------MORE FROM SETTLE STORIES:🎭 Live Workshops & Masterclasses: https://settlestories.org.uk🔔 Subscribe for weekly storytelling tools!

Your first sentence decides whether people listen. Here is how to cut the backstoryand put your listener inside the room straight away.Most of us open with a runway: three years of context, a company history, a familyconnection, all before anything happens. We do it because we believe context createsunderstanding. Motion creates attention.In this episode you will learn:- The Runway Trap, why we front-load context, and what it costs us- The Archer and the Oil Peddler, a classic fable from ancient China- How to open in the action while keeping your listener oriented- Two head teachers opening the same staff meeting, side by side- The Action Launch, with three worked openings for charity and community workCHAPTERS0:00 The Runway Trap0:50 Listen. Everything starts with listening2:00 Why motion earns attention3:20 The tale: The Archer and the Oil Peddler7:40 Give us the coin and the stream of oil9:30 The pitfall: action with no anchor11:20 Two head teachers open the same meeting13:40 Practice: dropping the runway16:00 The Action Launch, three worked openings18:40 Bring your storyABOUTSita Brand is a storyteller and Dharma teacher with forty years of experience, andthe founder of Settle Stories. Every week on The Storyteller's Toolkit she gives youone technique, one tale, and one practice you can use the same day.JOIN USSubscribe for a new storytelling technique every week.Leave a comment below with the opening sentence of your latest story.Workshops, masterclasses and coaching circles: https://settlestories.org.ukApply to be a guest: https://wkf.ms/4g6b5vystorytelling podcast, how to start a story, storytelling techniques, public speaking,presentation openings, keynote speaking, Sita Brand, Settle Stories#Storytelling #PublicSpeaking #SettleStories